Inclusion event encourages parents to support LGBT students

Walter Cassidy, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate, discusses LGBT issues to parents, students, and teachers at a workshop on inclusion in our schools, at Herman Secondary School, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Cassidy is wearing a Jason Collins jersery, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Walkerville high school teacher Walter Cassidy said it saddens him to see students not be accepted by their parents for being gay – and sometimes kicked out of their homes for their sexuality –which is why it was so important for him to speak to parents Saturday about the need for their understanding and support.

“Our goal today is to talk to parents about creating a gay-straight alliance in their home environment,” said Cassidy before speaking to parents at an event promoting diversity and inclusion held at W.F. Herman high school Saturday. “We’ve been talking a lot about having a more inclusive school and classroom environment for LGBT youth and I’ve done these talks with educators and teachers, but now it’s time to talk to parents about this.”

Cassidy was one of several presenters at the day-long event, said Greater Essex County District School Board diversity officer Rachel Olivero. The event involved workshops and discussions about issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. It was hosted by the GECDSB parent involvement committee and was open to parents of students in the public board. About 50 people attended, said Olivero.

“We’ve done things about this topic for parents, and we’ve done things for students, but this is first time bringing them together,” said Olivero. “And this is so important because we know that so many of our students are living in families where they don’t feel supported.”

Olivero said there are gay-straight alliances in every one of the high schools within the public board.

“Some parents aren’t quite sure what GSAs are – they’re wondering if it’s a dating service or what they do or talk about – and a lot of parents don’t know what LGBT means, so we’re hoping to start that conversation today,” said Olivero. “By having a GSA in the school, it’s a safe place within a school where students can talk about issues that affect them, but the missing factor is how do we get the support of the parents.”

Cassidy said coming out to parents is often hard for students to do, and parents could be doing more to make it easier for them.

“Coming out is such a personal element to communicate to other people and even though parents think they are being supportive, the students sometimes feel that if they do come out, they’re a disappointment because we live in a very homophobic environment,” said Cassidy.

He said there are simple ways parents can create a home environment that is supportive of the LGBT community without actually saying anything.

“Things such as having a rainbow flag goes a long way,” said Cassidy, pointing out he specifically wore a Jason Collins basketball jersey Saturday, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay – which he said is another simple gesture that shows LGBT support.

“The more of an environment that you create that it’s not a big deal, the more it’s easier for them to actually come out,” said Cassidy.

And Cassidy said even if your child is straight, it is important to educate them on the importance of accepting other students, regardless of their sexuality.

“It’s just like how we support any other group,” said Cassidy. “Like for instance, do people say ‘Well I’m not of African descent so that’s not my issue?’ No. So just like you celebrate the greatness of Martin Luther King, you should celebrate the greatness of Harvey Milk.”

Olivero said there were two parts to the event, which was called We All Belong: Celebrating Diversity in Our Schools and Our community. The morning session focused on providing parents information about First Nations, Metis and Inuit programs offered within the board. In the afternoon session, focused on GSAs and LGBT issues, Olivero said there was a panel of seven students who shared their stories about coming out to their parents and provided insight on what it means to have support at home.

One student, who preferred not to have her name published, said her family was unsupportive when she came out to them as a lesbian. She said it crushed her to feel that she was somehow wrong for being who she is and expressing her true identity to them. She said Saturday she was hoping her story could help other parents understand the importance of being supportive of their children, regardless of their sexuality.

“I think they can learn from my story that if you don’t accept your child, they’re going to feel really bad about themselves and wish they weren’t the way they are,” said the Grade 11 student. “It shouldn’t matter your sexual orientation, and if everyone could just be accepting of everyone, it would just be a better world.”

Walter Cassidy, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate, discusses LGBT issues to parents, students, and teachers at a workshop on inclusion in our schools, at Herman Secondary School, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Cassidy is wearing a Jason Collins jersery, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Walter Cassidy, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate, discusses LGBT issues to parents, students, and teachers at a workshop on inclusion in our schools, at Herman Secondary School, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Cassidy is wearing a Jason Collins jersery, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Walter Cassidy, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate, discusses LGBT issues to parents, students, and teachers at a workshop on inclusion in our schools, at Herman Secondary School, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Cassidy is wearing a Jason Collins jersery, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Walter Cassidy, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate, discusses LGBT issues to parents, students, and teachers at a workshop on inclusion in our schools, at Herman Secondary School, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Cassidy is wearing a Jason Collins jersery, who is the first NBA player to be openly gay. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)